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Our research suggests that you probably did not catch a baby catfish. That being the case, we're not exactly sure if the weight alone can provide any insight into the age of the fish. Although we didn't know where you hooked the big one, we checked out the catfish page on the web site of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Going by weight alone, we eliminated several species and ended up with Blue, Flathead, and Channel catfish as the possible breeds of your catch. By viewing the illustrations at the site, you should be able to conclusively determine the species. The maximum lifespan for the aforementioned species ranges anywhere from 15 to 25 years. For more on catfish and catching them,
visit the Yahoo! Catfishing category. Regardless of the age of the fish, you were probably wise to toss him back. Sport fishing, like most nature activities, can have serious repercussions for the environment and the biological systems involved. The concept of "catch and release" fishing has been around for long time and is something every fisherman should be acquainted with. For tips on making successful releases, read the Catch and Release Fact Sheet from the Rhode Island Sea Grant program.
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